$27,300 back-pay for two Bendigo employees

Two workers at Bendigo in Victoria’s Goldfields region have been back-paid a total of $27,300 following intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The largest recovery was $19,500 for a tradesman.

The 22-year-old male employee was not paid annual leave and overtime entitlements or for some time worked.

After a Fair Work inspector contacted the business and explained its obligations, arrangements were made for the employee to be reimbursed all money owed without the need for further action against the employer.

In a separate case, a 48-year-old sales assistant has also been back-paid $7800 after an inspector discovered the female employee had been underpaid the minimum hourly rate over an 18-month period.

“It’s a fact that some businesses inadvertently breach workplace laws. When we find mistakes, we’re here to assist and give practical advice to employers on how to voluntarily fix them,” says Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson.

“These businesses have now corrected the errors that led to the underpayments and put processes in place to ensure they will not happen again.”

Workers or employers seeking support should get in touch with the Fair Work Ombudsman via the website - www.fairwork.gov.au - or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

A free interpreter service is available on 13 14 50, and information on the website is translated into 27 different languages.

The website has a number of tools and resources, including PayCheck Plus and an Award Finder, to assist business-owners calculate the correct pay for their employees.

PayCheckPlus calculates minimum rates of pay per hour, per shift or per week and can take into account overtime, penalty rates and allowances.

Free documentation is also available Online for employers to use when hiring, managing and dismissing staff, including letters of engagement and probation, timesheet and pay slip templates, leave application forms, a self-audit check list and workplace complaint form.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is committed to providing advice that you can rely on. The information contained on this website is general in nature. If you are unsure about how it applies to your situation you can call our Infoline on 13 13 94 or speak with a union, industry association or workplace relations professional. Visitors are warned that this site may inadvertently contain names or pictures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have recently died.